Razor



Jah. 7,l 1947. 1 E, QNNQLLY 2,413,864

RAZOR Filed May 14, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 James Z' Canna/ly `hln. 7, 1947. J, E QONNOLLYv 2,413,864

RAZOR Filed May 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZKMVLMW- Patented Jan. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 .Qlairns This invention relatestosafety razors and more particularly to safety Vrazors of the type `including a guard, a head, and lmeans for drawing or holding the .guard and :head together to clamp between .thema Wafer type Aflexible blade.

In `many razors kof Vthis kind the khead is provided .with va threaded .Stem adapted to extend through apertures in the blade 4and the guard and to receive lthe interiorly threaded end of a shank or handle which ,When screwed Vup tightly on the stern, draws VAtl'1 e .;gi uar d and head together so as to clamp the blade lin operative position. The guard ,is equipped .with locating means such as a rib or s et of lugs for aligning the blade.

Most yblades novv y used `with rarzors of this class are formed Witha eentraljaperture or .slot which has to ,beslipped over the-headfs threadedstem before the guard is applied. Erequentlythe walls of the bladeaperture orslotcatch kon the lthreads yof the .stem making itnecessary to jiggle the .blade a jlittle to dislodge it from the threads.

Thus considerablecare is reguiredtoposition the blade on the head. 4Qften, when the thin, vdelicate blade is handled carelessly by a heavylianded person it-catches lon the threads, is forced and broken.

I n .acco rdance with thepresent invention these diiiiculties are eliminated byprovilinga lconstructioninwhich the bladeis formed with a slot adapted to receive aguidingparton the vhe ad,.s'uch `as a ribor lug, the bladethen being moved endwise intoeooperative position with respectto the head.

,Itheretofore-has beenproposed to provide a Wafer yblade with an open ended slot adapted to receive a guide rib on a .safetyrazor headl so that the blade may be slid endwise into operative position.

vIn .such prior constructions the blade tsloosely or freely on the head and iseasily displaceable from thehead by even a slight j arringor` tipping- It isgnecessary for the user to hold the bladeon vferred to in whichthe blade can be positioned on the head by` endvvisemovementand guided to operative position by arib, lug, or thelike on the head extending. into. aslotinthe blade, there being means on the .head VVfor vholding lthe blade bowedtransversely, whereby accidental displacement of the blade from the head is resisted. rThe blade` is thus yieldingly. or resiliently connected to the-head andwill holdits position on thehea'd While the yguard is' being aplld.

Another object of the invention isto provide a lconstruction in which Ithe blade slot is open at one end and eiiten'ds substantially throughout the length of the blade', the open end of the slot-being adapted to be passed overa guiding part on the head, and the blade being engaged With a shoulder or other surface on the head Vfor bowing the blade transversely. '4

Another object is to provide a headand blade assembly in which the blade is held bowed by the head itself,thebladehaving a slot extending-from one end only partially to the other end'ah'd terminating in a blade inner bridge piece-beyond which ,the-blade is formed withan opening for receiving aprojection on the head.

Another object is to prov-ide a-blade and head constructionv` of the kind in which the blade has an open ended slot adapted to receive a guide part on the head so that the blade may bernoved end- Wise ntoposition, the end of the blade opposite the openendoffthe vslot being Aformed with a'tab or the like Vwhich canbe grasped easily for r'emoving the blade from the head.

Another object of the vinvention-is to provide a yjacent the slot open end for-preventing theblade f rQm Spreading.

Other objects `will become apparent from a reading of `thefollovving detailed description,.the

appended claims, and the accompanying 4drawingsh in which:

AFigurer 1 isa perspective vView of a razor blade and head embodying the invention in rone-form, i-,hejblade-being shown as being Yonly partially appliedto thehead andthe longitudinal viiexingcf the blade-being exaggerated for yclearness .oi illustration.

Figure \2 is aA transverseV section of .theblade and -head shownlinliligure l-.but .with theiblade shown in its cooperative or assembled `position yWithrespect to the head.

Figure 3 isla sideview showing thehead in longitudinal section andthe blade inelevation, the blade beings'h'own in-an intermediate position occupiedduring its endvvise movement into vcooperative position With respect to the head.

' Figure v`4 is .-a. transverse sectional `v .ievv of .the

assembled head and blade shownin l*Figures 1, 2

ausser Y 3 and 3 in connection also with a guard and handle, all of the parts being shown in completely assembled position ready for use.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembly shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan View of a razor guard looking at the face thereof Which is adapted to be positioned neXt to the razor blade.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary assembly plan view showing one end of the head and the adjacent end of the blade ofthe construction shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified construction.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the blade and head shown in Figure 8, the blade being sho-wn in its cooperative position with respect to the head.

Figure 10 is a View showing the blade and head illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the head being shown in longitudinal section and the blade in side elevation in an intermediate position occupied during its endwise movement on the head.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a guard adapted to be assembled in connection with the head and blade shown in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive.

Figure l2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing a further modified construction.

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional viewv of the blade and head shown in Figure 12, the blade being shown in its cooperative position with respect to the head.

Figure 14 is a view showing the blade and head illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, the head being shown in longitudinal section and the blade in side elevation in an intermediate position occupied during its endwise movement on the head; and

Figure 15 is a plan view of a guard adapted to be assembled in connection with the head and blade shown in Figures l2 to 14, inclusive.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, includes a head member A, a flexible wafer type blade B, a guard member C, and a shank or handle D. The blade-is adapted to be positioned between the head A and guard B which may be drawn or held together by cooperation of a threaded stud I on the head A and an internally threaded bore 2 in the end of the handle D.

The blade B is formed with an open ended slot 3 which extends from the left hand end of the blade, as viewed in Figures 1, 3 and 5, toward the right, terminating in a single bridge piece 4 which joins the portions of the blade on opposite sides of the slot 3. The blade may be formed along both sides of the slot 3 with stress relief openings or transverse grooves of any suitable size and configuration. The two opposed cutting edges of the blade are indicated at 5.

The head A is curved or bowed transversely, and is formed on its concave face with a longitudinally extending rib part I5 which is adapted to `be received by the blade slot 3 for guiding the .blade B when it is moved endwise into cooperative position with respect to the head A. In order that the blade B may be held releasably and yieldingly in its cooperative position the head is formed with a collar 1 surrounding the stud I adjacent its junction with the rib 6, the collar 1 providing a shoulder 8 under which the blade passes when being moved endwise intoposition on the head.

In accordance with the invention, the shoulder 8 is so positionedwith respect to the longitudinal sideration of Figure 2, that this positioning ofthe shoulder 8 with respect to other parts of the head A causes the blade B to vbe held in the desired transversely bowed state. Consequently, the blade will not become detached from the head accidentally before the guard C is put into place as shown in Figures l and 5. When the guard C is put in place and screwed down tight by the handle D the blade will be clamped in the position shown in Figure 4 which corresponds to the positioning of blades in conventional razors of this type.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the razor head and the end of the blade adjacent the open end of the slot are cooperatively formed or related to resist spreading of the blade when it is clamped between the head A and guard C. In the form shown, the blade B is formed with centering faces 9 which are disposed inwardly from the cutting edges 5 and between the cutting edges and the slot 3. The blade also is formed with transversely extending locating faces Ii). When the blade is moved endwise into position on the head the surfaces I0 will engage blade centering lugs II on the head so as to limit the blades endwise movement. The lugs II are tapered from their outer edges downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the head A so that if the blade has any tendency to spread adjacent the open end of the slot, downward pressure exerted on the blade by the head C will force the centering faces 9 against the inclined surfaces of the lugs II which will cause the faces 9 and the associated blade portions to be cammed or squeezed inwardly toward the blades longitudinal axis.

The lugs II are provided at each of the corners of the head A so that when the blade is moved endwise into position on the head the blade must pass over the lugs II at the end of the head from which the blade is being introduced. The lugs II extend upwardly above the shoulder 8 so that the blade B must be bowed longitudinally as Well as transversely while it is passing over the lugs Il as shown in Figures 1 and 3. After the blade has been moved to the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 3 far enough for the blade faces I5) at the left of the blade to engage the head lugs II the blade faces i at the right of the blade will pass beyond the adjacent head lugs I I whereupon the blade will move down into the position shown in Figure 2 in which the blade is bowed transversely but not longitudinally.

As shown in Figure 6, the guard C is formed with the usual longitudinal recess I2 adapted to receive the head rib 6 and is further provided with a counterbore or circular recess I3 adapted to receive the head collar 'I so as to enable the guard to be brought up close to the blade and head as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In order to facilitate removal of the blade endwise from the head, the blade may be provided with a lug or tab I4 projecting out of the plane of the blade from the bridge piece 4. Grasping of the tab I4 is facilitated by providing the head A with end cut-outs or recesses I5 adapted to Amodate the head projection il.

afii'asei accommodate the tab lil and render it easily accessible.

The modiiied construction shown in Figures 8 to `11 is similarV to that described with reference to 'Figures' 1 to 7 in that the blade is bowed both transversely and longitudinally while being applied endvvise to the head but differs 'from the vpreviously described form in that the blade embodied in the modified form has a central slot extending only partially throughout Vits length and the head is modified -in order 'to cooperate with the shorter blade slot. The head A', shown in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, i's similar to the head A shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, with the ercept-ion that its longitudinal rib l extends 'from the left hand end of the head only to the threaded stem l', a separate projection or short rib l1 being provided at the right hand end of the headvin longitudinally spaced relation to the rib |`6. The projection Il is at least as high as the distance between the shoulder 8 and the longitud'inal center of the head concave face. The other parts of the head A Yare similar to corresponding parts in the previously described form 'and are designated by corresponding reference characters which, however, are primed. For eX- 'a'mpla the head A shown in Figures 8 to 11, in-

elusive, 'has a collar i and a shoulder e which correspond to the collar 1 and shoulder 'S embodied in the head A shown in Figures 1 to 7,

inclusive.

The blade B' embodied in the form shown in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, has a short slot i8 eX- tending from the left hand end of the 'blade slightly -beyond the center of the blade so 'as to 'terminate at an inner bridge piece le beyond which is a blade opening 2e adapted to accom- Otherwise the parts of the blade B are similar to corresponding parts of theblade B and are designated by corresponding reference numerals which, however, are primed. Thus, the blade B hasa right hand bridge piece 4 and cutting edges 5 corresponding, respectively, to the bridge piece 4 and cutting'edges 5 ofthe blade B.

`In order to position the blade B on the head A' the open end of the slot I8 is passed from right to left over the head rib i6 and under the shoulder 8. During its movement to the leit the vblade B will be bowed transversely and longitudinally, aspreviously explained, and when the left hand blade faces I6' engage 'the left hand head lugs il the blade opening 2i) will register with the head projection l1 and the right hand end oi the blade may be moved down into final position on the head with the blade bowed only transversely, as shown in Figure 9.

The guard C', shown in Figure 11, has a longitudinal recess 2l adapted to receive the head rib lthat the blade is bowed both transversely and longitudinally while being moved into position n thehead and is bowed only transversely when 'in its iinal cooperative position. The head A" shown in Figures 12 to 14 is formed with a longiltudinally xtehding'rib 2'3 andailange 24 atthe top of that portion of the rib 23 extending from the left hand end of the head to a point just beyond the threaded stem I. The bottom overhanging faces of the ange 2A provide shoulders under which the blade B is moved endwise. Thus, the flange 2d with its shoulders 2d performs in a broad sense the same function as the round collar l and shoulder 8 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive. The other parts of the head A are similar to corresponding parts of the head A and are designated by correspond-ing but double primed reference numerals.

The blade B, shown in Figures 12 to 15, inclusive, may be and is shown as being precisely the same as the blade B illustrated in Figures 1 to '7, inclusive. However, the guard C kdiiers in that it is formed with a longitudinally extending narrow recess 21 adapted to receive the head rib 23 and with a longitudinally extending relatively wide recess 26 adapted to accommodate the 'ange 24.

It will be apparent that in each of the embodiments shown for the purposes of illustrating the broad principles of the invention the head and blade are so cooperatively constructed and arranged tliat, prior to the applicati-on of the guard, the blade will be held yieldingly in a transversely bowed condition c-n the head. The resiliency of the blade resists accidental Vdisplacenflent of the blade from the head so that while the guard is eing applied to the assembled blade and head there is no likelihood that the blade willjiggle off. This eliminates a difdculty that heretofore has caused considerable annoyance and breakage dulling of many razor blades.

The constructions disclosed for `the purposeof illustration embody the invention in the form-s now preferred but it will be apparent that ythe invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

l. A clamping head for a safety razor ofthe type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said headand guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot, said head having a part adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect t-o said head, and shoulder means under whichthe so positioned blade lies, said shoulder means being disposed below a plane containing the longtudinal edges oi said head whereby said shoulder means and said longitudinal edges will hold the blade bowed longitudinally to resist accidental displacementl o1 the blade from the head.

2. A clamping head for a safety razor 'of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot, 'said head being curved transversely and having a part on its concave face adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to said head, and shoulder means under which the so positioned blade lies, said shoulder means being disposed between a plane containing the heads longitudinal edges and the longitudinal center of the heads concave weitereby said shoulder means and said longitudinal edges will hold the blade bowed transversely to resist accidental displacement of the blade from the head.

E. A clamping head for a safety razor of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot, said head being curved transversely and having blade centering lugs at its corners on its concave face, a part adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to Said head, and shoulder means under which the blade moves endwise into said position, said shoulder means being disposed between the longitudinal center of the heads concave face and a plane containing the heads longitudinal edges whereby the blade will have to be bowed both transversely and longitudinally when being moved endwise into position and the shoulder means and head longitudinal edges will hold the positioned blade bowed transversely to yieldingly resist accidental displacement of the blade from the head.

4. A clamping head for a safety razor ofthe type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot, said head being curved transversely and having a longitudinally extending rib on its concave face adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative positio-n with respect to said head, and a collar on said rib providing a shoulder spaced from and facing said head' and being adapted to overlie a blade cooperatively positioned on said head, said shoulder means being disposed between the longitudinal center of the heads concave face and a plane containing the heads longitudinal edges, whereby a cooperatively positioned blade will be held bowed transversely and displacement of the blade from the head will be yieldingly resisted.

5. A clamping head for a safety razor of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot extending from o-ne end of the bladeonly part way to the other end thereof and terminating at an inner bridge piece beyond which there is an opening in the blade and, beyond said opening, an outer bridge piece, said head being curved transversely and having a rib on its concave face extending longitudinally from one end of the head and terminating adjacent the head center and being adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to the head, a projection on the heads concave face spaced longitudinally from said rib and being adapted to be received by said blade opening, and shoulder means under which a cooperatively positioned blade lies, said shoulder means being disposed between the longitudinal center of the heads concave face and a plane containing the heads longitudinal edges whereby a cooperatively positioned blade will be held bowed transversely and displacement of the blade from the head will be yieldingly resisted.

6. A clamping head for a safety razor of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot extending from one end of the blade only part way to the other end thereof and terminating at an inner bridge piece beyond which there is an opening in the blade and, beyond said opening, an outer bridge piece, said head being curved transversely and having a rib on its concave face extending longitudinally from one end of the head and terminating adjacent the head center and being vadapted to be received in the blade slo't for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to the head, a projection on the heads concave face spaced longitudinally from said rib and being adapted to be received by said blade opening, and shoulder means under which a cooperatively positioned blade lies, said projection being at least as high as the distance between said shoulder means and said headsconcave face whereby when the blade is being moved endwise into said cooperative position the blade must be bowed longitudinally to enable said inner bridge piece to pass over said projection so that the projection may then enter said blade opening for maintaining the blade against accidental displacement from said head. 7. A clamping head for a safety razor of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot extending from one end of the blade only part way to the other end thereof and terminating at an inner bridge piece beyond which there is an opening in the blade and, beyond said opening, an outer bridge piece, said head being curved transversely and having a rib on its concave face extending longitudinally from one end of the head and terminating adjacent the head center and being adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to the head, a projection on the head concave face spaced longitudinally from said rib and being adapted to be received by said blade opening, and shoulder means under which a cooperatively positioned blade lies, said projection being at least as high as the distance between said shoulder means and said heads concave face whereby when the blade is being moved endwise into said cooperative position the blade must be bowed longitudinally to enable said inner bridge piece to pass over said projection so that the projection may then enter said blade opening for maintaining the blade against accidental displacement f from said head, said shoulder means being disposed between the longitudinal center of the heads concave face and a plane containing the heads longitudinal edges whereby a cooperatively positioned blade will be held bowed transversely by its engagement with the heads longitudinal side edges and said shoulder means.

8. A clamping head for a safety razor of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot, said head being curved transversely and having a longitudinally extending rib on its concave face adapted to be received in the` blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to said head, and a flange on said rib extending from one end of the head only partially to the other end thereof and providing shoulder means spaced from and facing said head and being adapted to overlie a blade cooperatively positioned on said head, said shoulder means being disposed between the longitudinal center of the heads concave face and a plane containing the head longitudinal edges, whereby a cooperatively positioned blade will be held bowed transversely and displacement of the blade from the head will be yieldingly resisted.

9. A clamping head for a safety razor of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp therebetween a wafer type blade having a longi- Cal tudinal slot, said head being curved transversely and having a longitudinally extending rib on its concave face adapted to be received in the blades slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to said head, and a flange on said rib providing shoulder means spaced from and facing said head and being adapted to overlie a blade cooperatively positioned on said head, said shoulder means being disposed between the longitudinal center of the heads concave face and a plane containing the heads longitudinal edges, whereby a cooperatively positioned blade will be held bowed transversely and displacement of the blade from the head will be yieldingly resisted.

10. A clamping head for a safety razor of the type including a guard; a head; and means for holding said guard and head together to clamp therebetween a resilient wafer type blade, said head having means to engage one face of the blade adjacent its longitudinal edges and other means to engage the other face of the blade intermediate its longitudinal edges, said two means being so relatively positioned as to hold the blade bowed transversely whereby displacement of the blade from the head is yieldingly resisted.

11. In a safety razor, a clamping head; a guard; a wafer type blade having an open ended longitudinal slot; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp the blade therebetween, said head having a part adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to said head, and shoulder means under which the so positioned blade lies, said shoulder means being disposed below a plane containing the longitudinal edges of said head whereby said shoulder means and said longitudinal edges will hold the blade bowed transversely to resist accidental displacement of the blade from the head while the razor is being assembled and prior to placement of the guard in assembled relation with respect to the head and blade.

12, In a safety razor, a transversely curved clamping head; a guard; a wafer type blade having a longitudinal slot; and means for holding said head and guard together to clamp the blade therebetween, said head having a part adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade endwise into cooperative position with respect to said head, and shoulder means on said head under which the blade moves endwise into said position, said shoulder means being disposed between the longitudinal center of the heads concave face and a plane containing the heads longitudinal side edges, whereby the positioned blade will be bowed transversely by its engagement with said shoulder means and said heads longitudinal side edges.

13. A razor including a head member, a guard member, and a blade as set forth in claim 11 in which onev of said members has a recess at one end and said blade has a tab accommodated in said recess so as to be easily grasped.

14. A razor as set forth in claim 12 in which the head member has a recess at one end and said blade has a tab accommodated in said recess so as to be easily grasped.

15. The combination of a razor clamping head and blade as set forth in claim 1 in which the head has a recess at one end and said blade has a tab accommodated in said recess so as to be easily grasped.

16. In combination, a safety razor clamping head; and a blade having anopen ended slot, said head having a part adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade into cooperative position with respect to said head, and a recess at one end of said head, said blade having an end tab accommodated in said recess so as to be easily grasped for removal of the blade from the head.

17. In combination, a safety razor clamping head; and a blade having an open ended slot, said head having a part adapted to be received in the blade slot for guiding the blade into cooperative position with respect to said head, and a recess at one end of said head, said blade having an end tab turned out of the plane of the blade and being accommodated in said recess so as to be easily grasped for removal of the blade JAMES E. CONN O'LLY. 

